Andy Gomez, from left, his brother Carlos and dad Danny team up to bring back The White Tortilla Mexican Kitchen, after 20 years, to the same corner in El Modena. This time around, Danny will be the landlord and restaurant consultant. Andrew is the owner and Carlos will help run the family business.

Danny Gomez, center, holds a photograph of the original White Tortilla Mexican Kitchen. He and his sons, Carlos, left, and Andy are bringing back the restaurant with a grand opening featuring original family recipes, music and prizes.

Danny Gomez, center, holds a photo of the original White Tortilla Mexican Kitchen. He, along with his sons Carlos, left, and Andy will bring back the iconic El Modena restaurant to its original spot. It's slated to open Saturday.

The original White Tortilla Mexican Kitchen on 4420 E. Chapman Avenue in Orange was in business for 25 years, but closed due to the expansion of Chapman Avenue, 20 years ago. It was recently the site of George's Place, a hamburger joint. It is reopening Saturday.

With the White Tortilla Kitchen joining a pack of Mexican restaurants along Chapman Avenue in Orange, you’d think the new owners would be worried.

But the El Modena restaurant has one advantage over its competitors: It’s already a legend.

The White Tortilla was forced to close more than two decades ago when Chapman Avenue widened. But its food has not been forgotten by generations of families who grew up in the mostly Hispanic neighborhood of El Modena.

At the time of the closure, the White Tortilla was run by Danny Gomez, whose father “Don Ramon” Gomez founded the general-store-turned-restaurant more than 60 years ago. Danny Gomez and his son, Andy, are reopening the restaurant Saturday – triggering buzz among locals who remember the restaurant’s famous verde sauce and pickled carrots.

“I can’t wait much longer to taste the great food. Anticipation is killing me,” wrote one Facebook fan.

All the original menu favorites are back plus a few surprise items, Andy Gomez said. Even the last original cook at the restaurant has returned to whip up classic dishes such as the The El Modena Kid – a burrito stuffed with chili verde, chili rojo, refried beans, rice, sour cream and guacamole.

“My dad and I are over-the-top excited about getting the restaurant open,” Andy Gomez said. “We are energized to open our doors, and have everybody come in.”

After closing the restaurant, the Gomez family kept the property and developed it for a fast-food tenant. Wendy’s and Burger King have come and gone. When the last food tenant closed last year, Andy Gomez decided it was time to restore the family’s legacy.

He and his father have been planning the White Tortilla’s reopening for months.

Andy Gomez left his job as a high school teacher in Anaheim Hills to run the day-to-day operations. Danny Gomez is in charge of resurrecting the recipes.

“I really feel like this restaurant belongs to the community of El Modena,” Andy Gomez told the Register during a previous interview. “I wish my grandpa was alive. That’s what’s driving me.”

Ramon Gomez turned his tiny general store into a restaurant in the 1950s. Back then, it was called La Competencia. In the 1960s, the family renamed it The White Tortilla Kitchen. In the early days, it was among a few Mexican restaurants that offered counter service and a self-serve salsa bar.

Andy Gomez said the salsa bar, stocked with pickled carrots, returns with two additional hot sauces.

The grand opening is at 11 a.m. Saturday. Throughout the day, select menu items will be offered at “throwback” prices.

Nancy Luna is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. She's been the Register's restaurant beat writer since 2005, covering some of the biggest players in the industry: In-N-Out, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. Luna also covers dining trends from food halls to food trucks. She writes with authority and is considered an expert in her field.

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